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First Austrian research center for hydrogen Project duration: 5 years from October 2005 Project manager: Dr. Manfred Klell Project partners: TU Graz, JR, ARCS, MAGNA, OMV, FVT, AVL, STGW Project subsidy: BM.WA, BM.VIT, SFG, Land Steiermark The opening of the HyCentA (Hydrogen Center Austria) took place on October 11 2005 on the premises of Graz University of Technology. The HyCentA is the first Austrian hydrogen research center with modern hydrogen testing and filling facilities for gaseous and liquid hydrogen, see www.hycenta.at. Project partners of the HyCentA Research GmbH are Graz University of Technology, Joanneum Research (JR) Forschungsgesellschaft mbH, Austrian Research Centers (ARC), MAGNA, OMV, AVL, Forschungsgesellschaft für Verbrennungskraftmaschinen und Thermodynamik mbH (FVT) and Steirische Gas-Wärme GmbH (STGW). The project is funded by Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Labour - bm.wa, Federal Ministry for Transport, Innovation and Technology - bm.vit, Zukunftsfonds des Landes Steiermark and Styrian Business Promotion Agency SFG. Hydrogen can be produced using a regenerative energy and it can be burnt with low or no pollution in internal combustion engines or fuel cells. A number of technical challenges regarding production, distribution, and storage still have to be solved before the common use of hydrogen, though. The facility was equipped by Linde Gas GmbH and contains state of the art storage, testing and measuring equipment for gaseous and liquid hydrogen. The infrastructure facilities consists of vacuum isolated tank for 17.600 liters of liquid hydrogen with dispenser, hydrogen conditioner, hydrogen compressor (up to 450 bar), tank for 3.200 liters of liquid nitrogen, vaporizer for hydrogen and nitrogen. The testing facility consists of test stands with supply of helium, nitrogen, and liquid as well as gaseous (up to 16 bar) hydrogen.The filling facility has fuel pumps for liquid (LH2) and gaseous hydrogen (CGH2 at 350 bar). The testing facility enables the performance of hydrogen related research and development projects.  Thermodynamic modelling and testing of liquid hydrogen tank systems  Development of a testing procedure for liquid hydrogen tank systems  Investigation of durability and life-time of materials in a hydrogen environment  Various topics of production, distribution and application of hydrogen  Hydrogen information platform (seminars, meetings) Short Description: The HyCentA (Hydrogen Center Austria) was opened on 11th October 2005 on the premises of Graz University of Technology. It is the first Austrian hydrogen research center with modern hydrogen testing and filling facilities, see www.hycenta.at